Adjustable particle collection apparatus



Nov. ll, 1969 A. A. PETERsEN ADJUSTABLE PARTICLE COLLECTION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 31, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N VEN T0 R.' A/ fred Arno/d Petersen 479' a?" 'y [growers Nov. 11, 1969 A. A. PETERSEN ADJUSTABLE PAHTICLE COLLECTION APPARATUS Filed 00t- 31, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figure 2 /N VEN TURI Alfred Amo/d Palersen A 7' TORNEYS United States Patent O Us. ci. 20s- 144l 4l Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE improved form of particle classifying-separatingcollecting apparatus, more particularly an adjustable partitioning means in aA collector bin foreffectingthe `col'- lection of different classes of particles.

The present invention relates to an improved forrn of particle elassifying-separating-collecting apparatus, 4and more particularly to an adjustable partitioning means in a collector bin for effecting the Acollectionof different classes of particles 2 1.,

In the -operation of power plants equipped with `coal burning stokers, or with certain other industrial operations', it is frequently desirable to separate and collect the solidparticles which' are 'being discharged `or carried along witha gaseous stream.` These particles can be 'classiied'by difference in size, dilierencecin density, or difference dueto the combination of V'these two basic char- 'a'cteristics.` To 'avoid confusing the classesV so obtained A'from classifications according to weight only,i the. term `ticleswhic'h may not 'burn completelyl and, therefore, re-

tain a part of'their fuel'value. The particles or ashes remaining after combustion `are generally classified by inertia mass, separated from t he exhaust gases, and collected according to `theirrinertia mass classification. lThe particles of larger inertia mass are recycled for further burning and the particlesofsmaller inertia mass arediscarded. In the operation of power plants, however, different fuels are burned under different environmental conditions, thus the size of the particles which areof. value for recycling may vary, but the ability to adjust the demarcation between classifications has not existed heretofore. Thus far, particles have been separated into only two classifications, without isolating other inertia mass classifications of particles. Furthermore, in the past, separate fixed dimension bins have been used for the collection of each classification. This practice has proved quite space consuming.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide an adjustable classifier-collector capable of multiple and varying classifications while realizing a reduction of space required. My invention can be used to separate for recycling partially burned particles of fuel, while removing completely burned particles for disposal. Another use is in separating particles used in catalytical processes for re-use, disposal, or further processing. Other uses include separation of absorbents by density for appropriate disposition, recovery and grading of particles used as abrasives, separation of mixtures of different types of particles, and separation of brokenpieces from undamaged pellets in various industrial uses. The adjustable portion of the invention is readily adaptable to either manual or automatic control operated either proximately or ICC remotely. My invention can best be described as being, in a particle separator-classifier apparatus which differentially separates particles from a particle laden gas stream according to the inertia mass of the particles such that particles of different inertia masses are discharged from different zones thereof, the improved construction and arrangement which comprises a single bin Ibelow and in open communication with the entire particle discharge portion of the apparatus, said bin being provided with gate means pivoted in the lower portion and adjustably movable to in turn provide varying sized compartment and varying sized inlet passageways to such compartments within said bin, saidbin narrowing at the lower portion where at least one particle outlet port is provided for each compartment, whereby the division of large and small` inertia mass particles can be regulated to flow into said varying sized compartments of said bin and whereby the particles may be withdrawn from the separate outlet -ports from the respective compartments. y

My invention provides a solution to the problem ofv an inflexible division between classifications through the use of a movable gate means which divides a unitary collector bin into separate compartments. Also, the limitation to two classifications is overcome through the use of multiple gates, A substantial savings in space is accomplished through the use of a single collection bin divided into compartments.

In my invention, suspended particles are first caused to be classified according to their inertia mass in :an initial inlet section or plenum. This is accomplished by passing 'a particle laden stream of gas through a. lateral inlet to Va horizontally disposed plenum chamber, where the linertia of the entrained particles willcarry them a distance across the plenum chamber in proportion to their individual inertia masses. The particles then descend into and pass through spaced centrifugal separators where they are separated from the gas stream and discharged into a single collection bin, which is divided into at least two compartments. The compartments are positioned under the centrifugal separators in a manner transverse to the direction of flow of the laden stream so that the particles of largest inertia mass fall into the furthermost compartment with respect to the stream inlet, while the lightest particlesof smallest inertia mass fall into the nearest compartment, and all other particles will fall into compartments in between, according to their relative inertia ,masses The bin of the unit is provided with a movable partition or gate which can be adjusted from outside the .compartments or bin by either manual or automatic means.

There is achieved then, in the use of a single bin with lmultiple compartments, an increase in. the flexibility of selective collection plus a decrease in the space required for collection.

The various features of my invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section of one embodiment of an apparatus for classification, separation and collection;

FIGURE 2 is a partial vertical section of another embodiment showing only the collection unit.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the classiier-separator comprises a lateral inlet 1 into a plenum chamber 2 which is defined by a lower horizontal tube sheet 4 and an upper sloping tube sheet 13, below which are :spaced centrifugal separating tubes 3 mounted in said tube sheet 4. The tubes 3 discharge particles into a single bin 6 and exhaust gas passes through off-take pipes 5. The lbin 6 is divided into compartments 7 for which the area can be varied by gate means 8, which is pivoted about shaft means 9 and is controlled by a motor or other power supply means 10 connecting with gear means 11.

In the operation of the unit, a particle laden gas stream enters the plenum chamber 2 through lateral gas inlet 1 causing the particles of largest inertia mass to be carried to the distant end of the chamber, while the particles of smallest inertia mass remain nearer the gas inlet 1. The particles then descend into centrifugal separator tubes 3, from which the gas is removed through olf-take pipes 5 into the cleaned gas olf-take section 14 and through a cleaned gas outlet passage 15. The particles then pass through the particle discharge portion 16 of the classifierseparator apparatus and into the collection bin 46 where the particles are directed into varying sized compartments 7 within the collection bin 6. The direction of particles is accomplished through the adjustment of a movable gate means 8 which is pivoted about a shaft means 9 and is operated by the electric motor 10 transmitting power through the gear train 1 1. The particles are drawn off from the compartments for disposition through respective outlets 17 of compartments 7.

Referring to FIGURE 2, there is shown a partial sectional view of a modified form of the invention. An upper section, not shown, may lbe similar to that shown in FIG- URE l, where a multiplicity of centrifugal separators will cause the separated particles to descend into the various compartments 7 of the single bin 6', the compartments being separated by gate means comprising gates 18 and 19. The collection of particles into particular compartments is accomplished through the adjustment of movable gate means 18 and 19, which are pivoted about the respective shaft means 20 and 21, and shown in this instance as being manually controlled by the respective lever means 22 and 23. The particles are drawn from the compartments for disposition through respective outlet 17 of compartments 7 I claim as my invention:

1. In a centrifugal separator type of particle separatorclassilier apparatus which differentially separates particles from a particle laden gas stream according to the inertia mass of the particles such that particles of different inertia masses are discharged from different zones thereof, which apparatus is characterized by centrifugal separating means for separating particles from a particle laden gas, and particle collecting means below the centrifugal separating means for collecting particles discharged therefrom, the improved construction and arrangement which comprises a single bin below and in open communication with the entire particle discharge portion of the apparatus, said bin being provided with gate means pivoted in the lower portion and adjustably movable to in turn provide varying sized compartments and varying sized inlet passageways to such compartments within said bin, said bin narrowing at the lower portion where at least one particle outlet port is provided for each compartment, whereby the divisin of 4 large and small inertia mass particles can be regulated to ilow into said varying sized compartments of said bin'and whereby the particles may be withdrawn from the separate outlet parts from the respective compartments.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that individual gates of said gate means are rigidly joined to rotatable shaft means and the movement of the gate means is selectively controlled by levermeans-connected to the shaft means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that individual gates of said gate means are rigidly joined to rotatable shaft means and the movement of the gate means is selectively controlled by power driven means transmitting power selectively to said shaft means.

4. Apparatus for classifying, separating, and collecting suspended particles from gases which comprises in combination, a lateral gas inlet into a plenum chamber, a cleaned gas off-take section, spaced centrifugal separator tubes depending from said plenum chamber and having open upper end portions to receive particle laden gases therefrom, said centrifugal separator tubes each having an olf-take pipe extending upward therefrom to said gas offtake section, a single particle collection bin below said gas inlet plenum chamber and encompassing said separator tubes, a gate pivoted in the lower portion of said bin and adjustably movable to provide two varying sized compartments and the resulting varying sized inlet passageways to such compartments within said bin, said bin narrowing at the lower portion thereof with one particle outlet port being provided for eachcompartment, whereby in said apparatus the particle laden gas stream laterally entering said plenum chamber propels the particles of greater inertia mass to the far side of said plenum chamber while the particles of lesser inertia mass are propelled only to the near side of said plenum chamber, all particles then descending into centrifugal separator tubes from where they are directed into the appropriate compartment of said bin from where said particles pass through their respective outlet ports.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,042,836 10/1912 Stromberg 209-135 1,135,594 4/1915 Liggen 209-135 X 2,773,598 12/1956-caste11ani 209-144 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,117 12/1897 Greafnrirain. 907,574 10/1962 Greatritain.

TIM R. MILES, Primary Examiner Us. c1. xx, -348 

